Saffron

Definition: Saffron

Saffron
A spice often used in Mediterranean and Moroccan cooking that is the dried point of pollination of the purple crocus (a flower similar to the iris). Each flower only provides three strands of saffron that must be carefully and painstakingly hand picked and dried, making it the most expensive spice in the world. For one ounce of saffron, 14,000 tiny strands must be harvested. Saffron adds a deep yellow color to dishes and was at one time a dye used to color cloth. A little goes a long way with most recipes calling for a small pinch of saffron threads to add a pleasant spicy smell and aromatic flavor.

My Persian friend Ramin adds this to dishes when I go over- chicken and basmati rice- and mentioned that is is pricey and coveted. His dishes are always tasty so I don't know if it is this spice in particular that makes them so yummy but they are good!